Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Events

We headed down to Kent Station for the second year to the Easter Scavenger Hunt, Egg Hunt, and picture with the bunny.You would never guess that two seconds earlier Kate was screaming and bawling because she was scared of the bunny, even though she knew it was 'just a person dressed up like a bunny'-classic.

I headed up the neighborhood hunt again. This year we had about 24 hunters with 400+ eggs. It poured all day Friday and into the night. Luckily it was a dry morning, just wet grass.
Paige did quite well, she actually collected eggs instead of just opening the first one she got.

By the time we hit Kent Station Paige had a hard time being limited to her 5 eggs, she wanted them all.


We had bagels, muffins, donuts, and hot chocolate after the neighborhood hunt.
Later that night we did one at home. I decided that to make it fair for the girls Tyson should have his legs tied together and Bradley had one arm tied behind his back. They thought it was fun, and it worked out well.
It was Bradley's favorite hunt.

Kate loved her chocolate bunny and furbee baby.
Rick thought 3 egg hunts were a bit excessive, demeaning the real meaning of Easter. We debated this on the way down to Kent Station. Luckily Kate saved me by giving an accurate account of the Ressurection, completely impromtu. Pheww!
By the end of the night Paige had figured out which chocolates she could open herself so she didn't have to bother asking for assistance.
We ended the evening with egg coloring.
Sunday we watched conference and had the Hatch family over for Michelle's birthday dinner- Happy 37th sis....wow we're getting up there!

A Mouse in the House!!!!

No, just Paige chewing through a stick of butter, April Fools!

We started putting in a new closet organizer on April Fools Day, so I told Kate we were emptying it out to be her new bedroom. She said "how are you going to fit my big bed (double) in here?" Turns out, she ended falling asleep in there...and we didn't even have to move a bed in for her!
But our best joke of the day was on Bradley.
He got plastic food in his lunch box courtesy of his brother!
There was also a note that said his real lunch was in a brown bag in his backpack. Apparently his teacher thought it was hilarious and showed the whole class.

Bradley's Big Baptism

Bradley was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on March, 27, 2010. He was baptized at the same time as another classmate, Rachel. It was a nice service. His uncle Brian gave a great talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost that he related to his GPS.

Afterwards, we had friends and family over for soup, salad, and dessert. It turned out the be a sunny day in March, though originally forecasted at 80% chance of rain. Instead we actually used the deck/yard which was great since there were over 40 people at the house!
Thanks to all who attended and made it a special day for him. We are so proud of you Bradley. You're really growing up.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

My Spring Chicken


I was planning a trip to the zoo with my family, but we spontaneously decided to pull the boys out of school an hour early to join us. It was a fun surprise. Good thing we took the boys out of school early... otherwise they might have missed out on their gravity lesson...
We went to the Woodland Park Zoo with my brother, Brian and son Zachary, Michelle and Spencer, and my parents. A little role reversal I'd say.
Just monkeying around.
It turned out to be a cool but sunny day. A lucky break in a crazy spring season of downpours.

The most entertaining animals of the day were the monkeys. There were two of them playing/fighting for a burlap bag. It was so funny to watch. There was quite a crowd all roaring when they would tease and bat at each other.
Cousins Spencer and Zachary with Kate.

This peacock certianly wasn't afraid. She put on quite a show.

Double Derby

Bradley turned 8 just in time to join scouts and enter the pinewood derby this year. They (mostly Rick and Tyson) worked and worked on the cars. We pulled it off and at 7:50 and glue still drying they headed out the the weigh-in on Tuesday night (doors closed at 8:00).
They had a lot to live up to since Tyson won the whole thing last year.
They raced and raced... winning most, but a few second places...

Bradley ended up (after computer glitches and judging errors--we missed you Rich Haddock!) with first place in the Wolf Den.
Tyson got first place (was supposed to be second) in the Webelos Den.
Kate and Sydney hung out at the coloring table.
Paige learned how to climb and stand on the chairs.
Overall, it was kind of a bummer that the computers were down and the trophies got all mixed up, but the cars looked at raced great... a success.

Big 8 Bradley

Bradley turned 8 on MARCH 9TH. He recently gave a poem during a school assembly for their virtue of the month, it was on Honesty.

Hanging out in the temporary playhouse (dishwasher box, courtesy of a friend).

We had a birthday party Monday night with Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle and the Hatch kids (their parents were on a cruise.)
He got CASH.... always a favorite gift. As well as two video games, scout stuff, baseballs, and a racetrack.
Kate was equally as excited...
On Bradley's actual birthday, he, Tyson, Rick, and I all went skiing at Crystal Mountain. It was Bradley's 2nd time. We took him on the real lifts and he did great. He was on and off the lift and up and down the mountain like a pro. It was really fun. Tyson is a great skier too. We had a great day. Thanks for watching the kids Mom.